Feed-water heater



2heets-Sheet 1. R. P. PRATT 8U C. D. WAINWRITHT.

FEED WATER HEATER.

(No Model.)

N. PETE". Pholn-Mhographnr, Wlxhmgton, D.- C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. P. PRATT 8U C'. D. WAINWRIGHT.

(No Model.)

EEED WATEE HEATER.

Patented Nov. 2.7, 1888.

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n. Pneus, mumgmpw. wwngxm n. c.

NrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RONELLO F. PRATT, OF REVERE, AND CHARLES D. W'AINWRIGHT, OF MED- FORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE 'WAINWRIGHT MANUFAC- TURTNG COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,483, dated November 27. 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that we, RoNELLo F. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk, and CHARLES D. WAINWRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of Middlesex, both in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Water Heaters, Condensers, or

to rlransferrers, of which the following is a specification.

Ourinvention consists in a feed-water heater ofpecnliar construction referred to below, in which the water will pass through a series of r5 horizontal tubes in a serpentine dircction and gradually ascend or descend until it reaches the outlet, the exhaust-steam being admitted and passing up or down around the said tubes, thereby heating the water to a high temperazo ture before it passes off to thc boiler. This apparatus may also be employed as a condenser by allowing the steam to pass through the pipes and cold water to circulate around them, and it may also be employed as a transferrer,

as hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of a feed-water heater or condenser embodying` our invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on linexm 3o of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the tube-plates. Figs. and 6 are face views of recessed plates for conducting the wat er from one series of pipes to another. Figs. 5 and 7 are vertical sections through the same. Fig.

8 is a View of the apparatus when used as a transferrer. We will first describe the apparatus as a feed-water heater.

Aisa base of cast-iron, divided horizontally by a partition B, so as to form two chambers, C D. To the top of this base is secured a casing, E, of cast or wrought iron, that is surmounted by a dome-shaped top, F.

G G are bars secured to the upper part of the base A. These bars support the series of pipes J, through which the water Hows.

H H are tube-plates, in which are fitted several series of horizontal spirally corrugated tubes J. To these tube-plates H. are secured recessed plates K L, the plate K on that side in which it is desired to admit and emit the 5o water, Zbeing the admission-port and m the exit-port. To the port Z is connected a pipe, M, that communicates with the water-chamber l, and to the port m is connected a pipe, N, that leads to the boiler.

In the drawings we have shown two openings to the ports Z and m, to either one of Which the pipes may be connected, the others being closed by plugs n. This construction is of great practical value, because by taking the 6o nest of tubes out ofthe casing E and removing one of the recessed plates K L the corresponding tube-plate is exposed, and any joint may therefore be readily repaired and any tube be easily replaced by a new one if necessary.

The casing E may be surrounded by an outer casing or lagging of wood, P, and the space between the two may be filled with any suitable non-conducting material.

Water is admitted at C' to the chamber C 7o and passes up the pipe M to the admissionport Z, and passes through the lower series of pipes, J, to the recess or port 1, then through the next series of pipes J to the port 2, and so on through the various series ol' pipes from 75 port2to3, 3to4,4=to5,5to6, 6to7,7to8,

8 to 9, 9 to l0, l0 to l1, and l1 to exit-port m, and thence by the pipe N to the boiler.

The exhaust-steam is admitted at F to the dome F, and passes down around and between 8o the tubes J and plates H K L into the chamber D, from which it escapes at D. The exhaust-steam being admitted at F and passing down, as described,while the water is passing up through the series of tubes in an ascending serpentine direction, it becomes gradually heated until it passes olf by the pipe N, when it has attained a very high temperature.

Should any scale be deposited upon the tubes J, the expansion and contraction of the said 9o tubes will render them self-cleaning, so that they are automatically freed from scale with` out injury to their connections, and enabling us to heat the water with clean tubes, thereby saving in fuel, and when required the scale and sediment can be blown oli and escape at the blow-off Q.

If it is desired to use the apparatus as a condenser, the steam is passed through the tubes and cold Water caused to circulate around them.

When it is desired to use this apparatus as a transferrer for heating water by means of hot water which has been superheatcd, we find it desirable to use it a little differently', and have shown in Fig. S whatwe call a transfcrrer embodying this same invention. The main parts of the apparatus are like corresponding parts of the apparatus first above described, and in operation the cold water is heated by the hot water and the hot water is cooled by the cold water.

The cold water is admitted at C to the cylinder E, fills the chambers C and D, and asccnds up around the tubes J to the outlet K2. The hot water from the superheater enters at inlet N and passes downward through the tubes .I in a serpentine direction, transferring its heat to the incoming cold water, and escapes at M2, being cooled by the incoming coldwater. The hot water entering at N in its passage through the pipes J to the outlet M2 transfers heat sufiicicnt to precipitate the carbonate of lime in the water, the carbonic acid gas passing off from thc chamber F through pipe F2. The cold water which is being heated should not bc allowed to completely fill the heater, otherwise the carbonio acid gas would not have a free escape,asis desirable.

To maintain the water in the cylinder E at the required height we employ a small eistern or cylinder, R, secured to the cylinder E in any convenient manner. Thc'cistern R is provided at its upper end with an opening, T, for the admission of cold water, and at its lower end is connected to a pipe, R, that communicates with the lower end of the cylinder E at C2.

In the cistern R is fitted a fioat, S, provided with a long stem, s, that passes out through the upper end ofeistern. On the stem s is fitted a valve, l', that when the iioat S is down will open the port T and allow water to iiow in; but when the water-line in the cylinder E has been attained the float S will have risen so that the valve t will close the port T. By this means it will` be seen that the water in the cylinder E will always be maintained at the same level.

U is a valve in the pipe R that can be closed when desired to shut off the water from the cylinder E-as when blowing ofi. Any other suitable means may be employed to maintain the proper Water-level in the cylinder E.

F2 is a pipe for the escape of any carbonicacid gas that may be thrown off by the carbonate of lime in the water, which carbonate of lime will then be precipitated and fall into the chamber C.

By thc employment of spirally-corrugated tubes a much greater heating-surface is obtained than with plain tubes occupying the same space, therefore rendering them much more effective in heating or cooling, and as thc corrugations form a succession of arches, both longitudinally and transversely, the strength of the tubes is much greater; theretfore a thinner tube can be employed, which gives greater efficiency in the transmission of the heat and consequently a great saving of fuel.

Instead of the spirall y corrugated tubes plain straight tubes may be employed, but not with such beneficial results.

What we claim as our invention is l. The heater above described, consisting of the base A, casing E, and cover F, said easing being provided with cross-bars G, in combination with a tube-nest located upon said bars G, within said casing, and consisting of two tube-plates, H H, a. series of tubes connecting said tube-plates, two recess-plates, of substantially the kind described, attached to the said tube-plates, each recess in said recessplatcs being opposite two sets of tubes and forming a chamber which connects them, the recesses of one plate overlapping the recesses of the other plate, whereby there is formed a continuous passage through the tubes and recesses for wateror steam from the lower set of tubes to the upper set, or vice versa, said nest having a single inlet and a single outlet, all arranged together, substantially as and adaptedY for the purpose set forth.

2. The heater above described, consisting of a pair of tube-plates, two or more sets of tubes connecting said tnbe-plates,two recessed plates,of substantially the kind described, attached to said tube-plates, each recess in said plate being opposite two or more sets of tubes and forming a chamber which connects them, the Vrecesses of one plate overlapping the recesses of the other plate, whereby there is formed a conti n nous passage for water or steam from the lower set of tubes to the upper set, in combination with means of substantially the kind described, whereby the water is kept at a constant level, and a gas-escape orifice located above said water-level, all as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RONELLO F. PRATT. CHARLES D. VVAIN WRIGHT. W'itnesses:

.Iosnrn Fox, E. PLANTA.

IOO 

